The Same...Yet Different

I had the privilege a few years back to attend the British Open golf tournament, held that year in Liverpool, England.  Traveling by train from Hawarden, Wales where I was studying at the time at the Gladstone Library, a friend and I walked onto the course at Royal Liverpool to find not the lush green fairways of American golf, but the stark, rough edges of British links golf.  The difference was highlighted further by the fact that Great Britain was suffering through its worst drought in more than a century. 

 

Watching the coverage of this year's Open from Muirfield on the east coast of Scotland, shows the conditions a bit greener, yet still quite stark.  That is the nature of links golf.  Deep heavy bunkers, brown narrow fairways, tall unkempt rough, and fast multi-colored greens.  In many ways it is the same game played on the courses of America, and yet in many ways it is a very different game.

 

Scotland is the birthplace of golf and as such, one might argue that links golf is the purest form of the sport.  The evolution of the game as it has spread around the world, however, has taken the game in its original form, and transformed it...the same game...yet different.

 

You might not be surprised to hear this from me, but I think there are similarities between this diversity in the game and the distinctive nature of every Christian community of faith.  Paul used the analogy of one body, yet many parts to describe the Christian community.  The variations seem to be a necessary aspect of kingdom building.  That which unites us is the same Christ, and as such, "we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another." (Romans 12:5) 

 

This diversity of faith practice not only varies from country to country, but community to community, and church to church.  Westwood does not hold the keys to the kingdom any more securely than another Christian community, but somehow, in all the variations of telling and living the story of Christ that characterize the Church, God still works and lives are transformed.  Thanks be to God.

 

Continue to remember our youth as they complete their Impact work in Louisa.  They will be returning home tomorrow and sharing a report in Sunday morning's service.  

 

Finally, celebrate the variety of life that marks our human experience.  Though such diversity has its challenges, it is a wonderful gift from the Creator.

 

Jim Abernathy

Thanks!

Reality at times falls short of anticipation...you know, the excitement leading up to an event or relationship encounter that is dashed when things don't turn out as one hopes.  Disappointment marks these experiences that we all have had from time to time.  That is not the case for Vacation Bible School 2013 at Westwood.  What a wonderful week!  So much time, effort, and prayer goes into this annual labor of love and this year was certainly no different.  Hopeful anticipation was realized as children and workers made this a week to remember.  Thank you Westwood for investing so much in the spiritual growth of children.  Let us continue to anticipate what God will do through the seeds that have been planted this week.  To our directors, teachers, youth and children...THANKS FOR A GREAT WEEK!

 

Our youth leave Sunday for a Impact! Virginia.  Every year they anticipate a great week of hard work and ministry opportunity as they help to rebuild houses and lives.  They make such a lasting difference in so many lives.  We will commission and send them out in the early moments of worship Sunday so plan to be present for this special time and to pray for them throughout the week.

 

Let us continue to anticipate the blessing of God's presence as we gather for worship Sunday morning  and as we consider future ministry and fellowship opportunities.  We will find God faithful.

 

Jim Abernathy

"We Mutually Pledge to Each Other..."

Our nation celebrates it's 237th birthday today.  Parties, parades, speeches and fireworks will fill the day and night.  Why shouldn't we celebrate!  There is a rich history and wondrous heritage that is shared by those who call themselves "citizen."  Many of us were born into this treasured identity and have grown up learning and sharing the stories of sacrifice and perseverance that built this nation.  Others have intentionally chosen citizenship, drawn to this country by its opportunity and its freedom.  The United States of America has been a place of welcome where many have found a home, encouraged by the hope of liberty.  Nineteenth century poet, Emma Lazarus, whose sonnet, "The New Colossus," framed the invitation of freedom in the context of one of our national treasures, the Statue of Liberty, wrote, "From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome..."  Indeed, the world has been welcomed here, many have embraced that invitation, and our nation has been strengthened and enriched as a result.

 

This great melting pot of religion, ethnicity, race, and varying culture speaks to the uniqueness of each person, but also to the significance of community and sacrifice.  Freedom offers great opportunity, but also great responsibility.  It seems that we have struggled with these particular characteristics of liberty of late, caught up more in our political agendas and personal interests rather than in focusing on a willingness to work together for the greater good.  In an editorial in this morning's Washington Post entitled, "A Call to Service,"  EJ Dionne cites a powerful sentence in the Declaration of Independence that he says we often forget; "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor."   He then comments on what he calls our nation's current "season of discontent," as he writes, "...we are more likely to invoke the word 'we' in the context of 'us versus them' than in the more capacious sense that includes every single American."  These are sobering words for they warn us about the dangers of defining our focus too narrowly.  Debate and disagreement are gifts of freedom to be tolerated as open doors to greater communication and consideration.  The greatness of our nation is not found in a particular party or political persuasion, but in the recognition that freedom's "world-wide welcome" calls us to a willingness to work and walk together, despite our differences.

 

And so, there is much to celebrate today, much to be grateful for, and much still to do in this great land of freedom.  With gratitude to God for blessings too numerous to count, let us celebrate this special day, committing ourselves anew to service, and in the same spirit of those brave souls who committed themselves to this grand experiment of freedom 237 years ago, let us "mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

 

Happy 4th of July!

 

Jim Abernathy

Working Together

Cindy and I attended the Nats/Diamondbacks baseball game yesterday afternoon at Nationals Stadium.  It was a rare 4:05 start time, but with a rain delay, the game did not actually start until 5:05. Having arrived at 3:30 to get our seats and find the requisite hot dog vendor, we found ourselves doing something neither of us have done with any frequency...sitting outside in the rain.  Now, sometimes we warmly reminisce about the pitter patter of a gentle shower or the awesome power of a mighty storm. However, when you are sitting in an open-air stadium waiting for a game that's not going to start on time, trying to stay dry while eating a $9 hot dog, it's a bit of a different experience.  In the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that our seats were just under cover, so though the occasional wind-blown drop did fall on us, we were mostly dry.  The rain fell steadily for over an hour and I wondered, though I didn't tell Cindy, a somewhat reluctant baseball fan, that it could be hours before the game got under way.   Around 4:20 the rain stopped and the ground crew sprung into action.  As many baseball games as I have attended over the years, this was the first time I witnessed personally a ground crew preparing the field for play after rain.  They began by pushing the water off the tarp that covered the infield with big brooms. Amazingly, the water was absorbed into the grass through what I am certain is an expensive drainage system.  These twelve to fifteen crew members each seemed to have a particular task. Moving quickly and with purpose, they began rolling up the tarp after the water was removed.  It was the kind of thing you watch and wonder, "how will they ever get that tarp back on the drum and under the larger tarp that it rests under in good weather?"  It's the same question many of us have had when trying to fold a map or refit one of those inflatable mattresses back in its box.  These guys, of course, were pros. In just under forty minutes, they got that field in great playing shape. What was a few minutes before a soggy mess, now became a viable major league playing surface.  The players hit the field, the umpire yelled, "play ball!," and the stands, once empty, swelled with enthusiastic fans.  It's amazing what can be done when people work together with purpose.

 

The same can be said for the church.  In all kinds of circumstances, people of faith gather to accomplish together what they could not do on their own.  Working side by side with purpose, brothers and sisters in faith meet the challenges brought on by the storms and difficulties of life, strengthening the community, empowering the church to answer Christ's calling to be salt and light to the world around us.  The task at times seems more than can be done, but the blessings are worth the effort.  VBS is just around the corner and serves as a great example of what happens when we all work together.  For just a few, this would be an overwhelming undertaking, but when we work together, committing time and resources, the job is done well.  In recent years we have seen this affirmed again and again during VBS week.  This year will be no different.  In ten days, children will be welcomed, taught, and loved because a family of faith, led by the Spirit of God, worked together to make it happen.  Glory to God!

 

I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday as we focus on the theme of liberty.  See you then!

 

Jim Abernathy

Summer Preparations

Today is the first official day of summer.  Ask any school-age child when summer begins and they will probably tell you that summer begins one second after the final bell rings on the last day of school.  Greater freedom often accompanies our celebrations of summer...schedules are often a bit more flexible, warmer temperatures allow for more outdoor activities, and of course, family travel. 

 

Where will your travels take you this summer?  Some will travel to see family, some will take their annual trek to the beach, some are already traveling internationally, while others will remain closer to home, enjoying what has come to be known as the "staycation".  Cindy will travel to Indiana in July to celebrate her mom's 95th birthday, we'll take Clayton back to Lexington, Ky. in August, then Cindy and I will get away for a few days before school starts.  Vacations can be a wonderful respite from the routines of our daily lives, allowing time for renewal and refreshment.

 

Most of us will make specific preparations for time away from home, not only in the arrangements for getting to our destination, but also for what we leave behind.  What preparations might you make with your church family before you depart?  If you're a Sunday School teacher or leader in any ministry, make sure someone who relates to your area of responsibility knows you will be gone and that you have taken care of securing your replacement if that's appropriate.  Send your tithes and offerings by mail or electronic bank transfer so that you can honor your commitments and help your church do the same.  Check the Westwood World, Westwood Express, or Sunday bulletin to know what's happening in case you want to plan your travel around upcoming events. Finally, when you are in town, don't miss a summer Sunday!  You make a difference when you gather with others to worship the living God.  If you have company visiting from out of town, bring them along with you.  Westwood is a welcoming community of believers who are strengthened by guests among us...guests who will also be blessed by sharing worship with our church family.  Dress comfortably and come expectantly...the presence of God is not a seasonal blessing.

 

This Sunday our handbell choir will be sharing special music.  We are always blessed when they share in worship.  I will be preaching from  Galatians 3:23-29, focusing on the blessing of freedom in Christ, freedom that empowers us to live and serve in ways we could never achieve on our own.  Our Passportkids campers will share a report about their experiences in Eagle Eyrie. 

 

I am already aware that some of our folks will be gone this Sunday on vacation.  Let us pray for them as they travel and let the rest of us be in our places this Sunday. In doing so, you will be a blessing to others as you join them in study of God's word and worship, and most importantly, God will be honored by your presence.  I look forward to seeing you on this first Sunday of summer!

 

Jim Abernathy

Last Words

Last words...we place a great deal of emphasis on last words.  There's even a familiar colloquialism that accompanies our reflections on things said, though it is often used as cynical reaction to something another person has said, either in boasting or overstating their opinion...famous last words.  I have heard those words on occasion in response to something I have said, and my guess is that many of you have as well. 

 

Closing words and thoughts are often summative which is one reason we pay such close attention to them. In the courtroom, last words define the case for the defense or prosecution and often impact the verdict of guilt or innocence.  Coming to the close of an engrossing novel, the last words on the page leave the reader to imagine next steps yet unwritten. At the end of the day, last words shared between parent and child may offer security for the soon coming darkness, assurance of nearby presence if needed, and reinforcement of love that empowers rest and peace. And as one comes to the close of life's journey, sometimes those words leave reminders of the power and influence of human relationship.

 

As Father's Day approaches, I remember my dad's last words to me and mine to him.  Cindy, Clayton and I had been in Northern Virginia about three weeks in September, 2001.  Still without a house of our own, we were living in the confines of grace and welcome in the home of Bob and Pat Nelson.  Their kindness and hospitality were a gift of blessing in that time of transition.  On the night of September 20th, I called my mom and dad from the basement of the Nelson's to check in and to invite them to participate in my installation as senior pastor at Westwood later in the month of October. They were excited about the opportunity to travel and see our new church and hopefully our new home.  In the last moments of that conversation, Clayton was on another extension and he, my dad, and I were drawing to a close a conversation that had highlighted so many new things in all our lives.  The last words from my dad in that moment were familiar, yet summative, not only for the close of a phone conversation, but for the life we had shared together.  "I love you, Clayton," he said.  "I love you too," Clayton responded.  Then he said, "I love you, Jim," and I responded, "I love you too."  Three hours later, the call came from my mom that my father had died suddenly. Since that day, I have cherished those last words shared, yes because of their proximity to his death, but more because of how they defined his life and our relationship.

 

Now, every conversation will obviously not conclude with words of love and appreciation. Yet, I would argue that the way you conclude a conversation with anyone you care deeply about has an impact, either as a point of reference for future conversation, or as a gateway to remembrance.  As Father's Day approaches, I am grateful for those last words shared with my father nearly twelve years ago. I still hear his voice from time to time, remember his laughter, and ponder the blessing of loving and being loved by him. 

 

Famous last words? Yes, thank God.

 

Jim Abernathy

Simple Things that Make Such a Difference

You may not have known this, but today is National Donut Day.  I realize this may come as a shock to some of you who may be surprised that so significant an observance is relatively unknown to most.  Is this just another excuse to give in to those delicious, round, sweet treats?  Well...yes, but there is more to the story.  It seems that National Donut Day is annually observed in this country on the first Friday in June and was founded not on the ravenous appetites of hungry, overweight Americans, but rather in the context of service.  The Salvation Army is credited with initiating this observance in 1938 to honor women who served in an auxiliary function during World War I, establishing in this country, and in France, what came to be known as Salvation Army Huts.    These huts became respites for soldiers who could find there a warm welcome, conversations of home, and those delicious donuts.  As you might imagine, these huts became quite popular.  Ensign Margaret Sheldon, who is credited with coming up with the idea, spoke of the popularity of the program, writing of one busy day, "Today I made 22 pies, 300 doughnuts, 700 cups of coffee."  Sounds like a good day at Krispy Kreme! 

 

 

The above cartoon from the publication "War Cry," shows one of the donut girls, or "Donut Dollies" as they came to be known, cheerfully offering a treasure of culinary delight! To young soldiers, far away from home, some in very dangerous places, a kind word and a delicious donut made a big difference.

 

Stories like this remind us of the significance of little things.  Now some might argue whether or not a delectable donut is indeed a little thing, but sometimes the everyday elements of life that become so routine can suddenly become so meaningful.  Perhaps today there is a word of encouragement, a cup of cold water, yes, even a cream-filled donut that you can offer to someone that will brighten their day, ease their burden, or crack open a hard shell of resistance that has become a barrier. As followers of Christ, we are called to make the most of these opportunities for in doing so, in serving others, we are truly serving Christ.  National Donut Day is another reminder of the simple things we can do that make such a difference. 

 

Well, I must bring this edition to a close...there's an errand I must run, a pick-up that must be made...a solemn observance in doing my part to honor those who so faithfully served.  Let's see, I think I can just make it to Krispy Kreme before my next appointment.

 

Jim Abernathy